Gasoline tank filler indicator



April 1934' G. w. BETTES GASOLINE TANK FILLER INDICATOR Filed Dec. 19.1952 atented pr. 3, 1934 FFICE lTED STATES PATENT This invention relatesto a gasoline tank filler indicator. It is particularly intended to beused at gasoline filling stations for automobiles where gasoline issupplied to the tank of the automobile through a flexible hose and anozzle from a pump or reservoir and its particular object is to providea convenient and conspicuous indicator that will show the attendant whenthe gasoline tank has been filled to the desired level so that the tankwill not be inadvertently overfilled and gasoline allowed to flow uponthe ground.

The device may also be used to indicate the level of gasoline in thetank before filling and the invention provides various novel features ofconstruction and arrangement as hereinafter more fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 shows a filling hose and nozzle embodying this invention inoperative position in a gasoline tank which is shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a filling nozzle withparts broken away showing details of the device embodying thisinvention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view through thelower end of the nozzle as indicated by line 55 in Fig. 2.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

1 represents the conventional hose which leads from the source ofgasoline supply such as a pump or a reservoir and communicates with amanually operated shut off valve 2 which has a hand lever 3 by which itis actuated. A conventional outlet nozzle 4 is in communication with theoutlet side of the valve 2 through a flexible conduit 5. The flexibleconduit 5 is essential to gain admittance to the wide variety oflocations in which various gasoline tank filler openings are located onvarious automobiles.

Within the cylindrical nozzle 4 is a cylindrical float chamber 6 whichis of tubular form and is preferably located eccentrically of the nozzle4 as against one inner side thereof to which it is attached and ispreferably long enough to extend from the lower open end of the nozzle 4through the upper end. The nozzle 4 has a closure 4a at its upper endwhich closely surrounds the projecting portion of the float chamber 6.The float chamber 6 is conveniently made of tubing having an outerdiameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the flexibleconduit 5 and the lower end of the conduit 5 fits over and is attachedto the projecting end of the tube 6 by suitable means such as brazing orsoldering which forms the connection between the conduit 5 and thenozzle 4.

The float chamber is formed in the lower portion of the tube 6 and isseparated from the upper portion thereof by a head 7. A side of the tube6 is cut away at 8 to provide a gasoline passage from the upper end ofthe tube into the nozzle 4 and the proportions of the sizes of theflexible conduit 5, the opening 8 and the interior space within thenozzle 4 not occupied by the tube 6 are such that the flow of gasolinewill not be impeded.

A float 9 is located in the float chamber below the head '7 and islongitudinally movable therein, its downward movement being limited bystop 10. A small flexible conduit 11 passesthrough the head 7 andextends centrally through the flexible conduit 5 and terminates at itsupper end in a tube 12 which has its inner end located centrally in saidconduit -5 and thence passes angularly through a fixed portion of thevalve 2, having its outer end extending exteriorly of said valve. Aflexible operating wire 13 is attached at its lower end to the float 9and extends through the flexible conduit 11 and into the tube 12 and isprovided at its upper end with an indicator 14. The length of the wire13 is such that the indicator 14 will lie within the tube 12 when thefloat 9 is in the lower position but will extend out of said tube whenthe float rises so that it will be clearly visible.

The operation In filling a gasoline tank it may be desirable to firstlearn the approximate level of gasoline in the tank before filling andthis may be done by inserting the nozzle and conduit into the tank 17 toa position where the float rises as shown by the indicator 14. Thedistance that the nozzleand conduit 5 has been inserted into the tankwill show the level of the gasoline contained therein and thereby theadditional amount of liquid required to fill the tank may beapproximately estimated.

The operator will then raise the nozzle until the shoulder provided at15 at the upper end of the nozzle where it is offset eccentrically fromthe conduit 5.en'gages the inner-side of the tank at its top adjacentthe filler opening 16 as indicated at Fig. 1. While the device is heldin this position with the float lowered by gravity and the indicator 14invisible within the tube 12, the operator opens the valve 2 by the handlever 3. and permits gasoline to flow into the tank through the conduit5 and nozzle 4, the operator carefully watching the end of the tube 12for appearance of the indicator 14. When the gasoline level rises in thetank to surround the float 9, the float rises because of its buoyancyand moves the wire 13 which has the indicator 14 at its upper end whichalso moves upwardly to visibility indicating to the operator that thedesired amount of gasoline has been supplied whereupon he immediatelycloses the valve 2 and prevents overflowing the tank.

The head '7, which completely closes the upper end of the float chamber,prevents the current of gasoline flowing through the nozzle fromengaging the float and effecting the buoyancy and a vent opening 18through the walls of the float chamber and the nozzle permit escape ofair above the float when gasoline enters the lower end of the floatchamber.

The flexible conduit 5 may be bent to its extremity in any directionwithout effecting the action of the float 9 and indicator 14 since theoperating wire 13 extendscentrally or at the axis of the conduit 5, thelength of which axis remains constant regardless of how the conduit isflexed. lhe device is operative in the dark or in places where it cannotbe seen by, the operator by the sense of touch. Instead of watching theindicator 14 the operator may place his finger at the end of the tube 12and feel the action of the indicator in rising and thus learn themovement of the float 9 and be governed to close the valve 2 thereby.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A device or the class described comprising a flexible conduit incommunication with a source of fluid supply, a nozzle at the deliveryend of said conduit, a float at said nozzle, an indicator adjacent saidconduit and appreciably spaced from said nozzle and a flexible actuatingmeans extending between said float and said indicator.

2. The elements in combination defined by claim 1- in which saidflexible actuating means extendsthrough said conduit.

3. The elements in combination defined by claim 1 in which the flexibleactuating means extends axially of said conduit.

4. A device of the class described comprising, a manually operable valvein communication with a source of liquid supply, a flexible conduitcommunicating with the outlet of said valve and terminating in a nozzle,a float at said nozzle, an indicator adjacent said valve and a flexibleactuating means extending between said float and said indicator.

5. The elements in combination defined in claim 4 in which said flexibleactuating means extends withinsaid flexible conduit.

6. The elements in combination defined in claim 4 in which said flexibleactuating means extends at the axis of said flexible conduit.

GEORGE W. BETTES.

